Alex Townsend

Podiatrist

“As a podiatrist I’ve also had the opportunity to work at some amazing sporting events. This is something that I find really exciting.”

What do you do?

It’s very difficult to say because as a podiatrist there really are no two days the same! The variety involved in the role always surprises me and that’s something I find really exciting. I’m never bored and that’s really important for me.

As a podiatrist I’ve also had the opportunity to work at some amazing sporting events. This is something that I find really exciting. I have worked at the London marathon three times which involved working with both wheel chair athletes as well as the able bodied athletes. I have also worked at the marathon with members of the public who are racing and this is always an exciting prospect!

These opportunities have definitely been some of my career highlights!

What is your typical day?

You can go from working in a biomechanics clinic with a patient that has injured themselves whilst on a run to working in wound care with a group of diabetic patients. You come across different people and conditions every day and there is always a new challenge waiting round the corner.

By far the best thing about my job is when I sit down with a patient and I find out that they are symptom free and pain free! You really do get to see the impact that your work has on your patients’ lives and you have an active involvement in improving their health and ultimately their day to day life.